Weed-cutting machine.



0. H. BIUR.

, WEED CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2. |914.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' momvfre WASHINGTON D c O. H. BJUR.

WEED CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2.`1914.

PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

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nfrnn sfrAfrns PATENT OFFICE.

` osCAR HJALMAR BJUR, oF'KENNEwrCK, WASHINGTON.

Ween-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application led November 2, 1914. Serial No.` 869,813.

Z'o all 107mm 'it may concern i Be it vknown that I, OSCAR HJALMAR BJUR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Kennewick, in the county of Benton vand State of Vashington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Veed-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention is an improvement in weed cutting machines, and has for its object to provide a machine of the character specified, wherein mechanism is provided for separating a strip of soil from the remaining soil, and whereiny other mechanism is provided for cutting beneath the strip and removing the soil in sections,` the said mechanism being arranged to deliver the'cut soil to a conveyer, which in turn delivers it to adropper, the dropper being arranged to be operated at will to drop the load at any desired point.

In the drawings, Figure lis a side view of the improved machine, Fig. 2 is a top plan view, Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of one of the cutting elements and its support, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the fingers ofthe dropper, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified construction of wheel, Figs. 6 and 7 are sections on the lines 6 6 and 7--7, respectively, of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent lto the said line, and Fig. 8 is a front view of the ring shown in Fig. 5.

The present embodiment of the invention consists of a frame composed ofV side members 1, connected at their front ends by upper and lower cross plates or bars 2. A substantially U-shaped brace v3 is arranged at the front end of each side bar, each brace encircling the cross plates and the end of thebar. V

An axle A is journaled transversely of the side bars near their rear ends, and wheels 5 and 5a are secured to the ends of the axle outside of the frame. A ring yisarranged on the outer face of each wheel concentric therewith, and the rings 6 and .6a are provided with sprocket teeth on their peripheries. l Au extension plate 7 is secured to each side bar at the rear end, and each extension plate extendsrearwardly beyond the adjacent side bar. roller 8 is supported between the extension plates at their rear ends, the roller being secured to a shaft- 9, which is journaled in sectional bearings A10 lon the l,and is normally pressed toward the wheel by a coil spring 14., which encircles the shaft between the extension plate and the sleeve. An elbow lever, consisting of arms 15 and 15a, is pivoted at 16 adjacent to the sprocket wheel and the arm 15 of the sprocket wheel has a fork which engages an annular groove in the sleeve. A link 17 has one kend connected to the arm 15a of the elbow lever, and the other end of the link is connected to a lever 18, which is pivoted atV one end as indicated at 19, to the adjacent side plate. The lever is provided with the usual latch ymechanism 20,. for `coopera-tion with a toothed sector 21, supported by the side plate or bar for Vholding the lever in adjusted position. n

. It will be evident that by the proper manipulation of the lever, the sprocket wheel 11 may be clutched to the shaft or detached therefrom to cause the roller S to rota-te with the axle, or to stand idle `as may be desired. The lever 1S is arrangedadjacent to a seat 22, which is supported from a cross bar 23,

.which connects the side bars l'near their front ends by means of a spring plate 24;,

andthe plate is extended forwardly beyond the cross bar 23, as indicated at 24a to a connection with the uppermost cross bar or plate 2.

The front end of the frame is supported by wheels 25, which are journaled on spindles 26, at theends of an arch bar 27. A journal pin 28 extends upwardly from the center of the arch bar through. they cross yplates 2 and a tongue 29 is connected with they upper end ofthe ournal pin.

A collar 30 encircles the journal pin near. its upperend.l and the tongue is pivoted to a pla-te 31, which is provided with an opening for receiving the pin and is'arranged directly above the collar. The tongue is provided with side or lish plates 32, arranged on opposite sides thereof, and the fish plates have openings for receiving the bolt 33, which connects them to the plate 31. rI`he tongue is thus hinged to the plate 31 to swing on a horizontal axis, and by swinging the tongue laterally the journal pin 28 will bc oscillated to swing the wheels 25 to guide the machine. f n

The plate 31 is locked to the shaft, by means of a washer 34 arranged above the said plate. The journal pin 28 is squared above the plate 31 and the opening through the washer 34 is shaped to fit thesquared portion. rlhe washer has a. hinged extension'35 at its front end and the extension is provided with a pin 36, which engages an opening in the plate 31, to lock the plate to the journal pin.

A spring 37 is arranged on the journal pin above the washer, the free end of the spring normally bearing against the eXtension to prevent disengagement of the pin, and a cotter pin 38 or the like is-arranged transversely of the journal pin, above the spring. The wheels are preferably `provided with ra knife edge at the outer edge of their peripheries. As shown in Fig. 5, the knife edge is at the periphery of a ring 39. f The ring 39 is provided vwithfour inwardly eX tending lugs 39L fitting within the felly 40a of the wheel, and each lug is provided with an opening registering with the opening in the felly.

Screw bolts 41 are passed through the fellies and through the lugs and are engaged by nuts 42 inside the felly to hold the ring in place. The Vwheel is provided with the usual metallic tire 40, the said tire being also held in place by the screw bolts 41 and the nuts 42. The bevel of the ring which Y forms a cutting edge is on kthe inner side thereof.

A crank shaft 43 is journaled in hangers 44, depending from the rear ends of the bars 1, and between the bars the crank shaft is provided with a .series of cranks, four cranks being provided in the present instance. A shaft 45 is journaled below the frame intermediate the ends thereof, in

hangers 4G, and a series of bars 47 is supsleeve 48, which is feathered to the shaft and is mounted for sliding movement toward and from the sprocket wheel.

A coil-spring 49 encircles the shaft at the sleeve, and normally acts to press the sleeve outwardly toward the sprocket wheel. rlhe sleeve 48 is provided with an annular groove,

which is engaged by a fork on the end of an arm 50, which extends radially from the shaft 52, journaled in bearings 52a on the adjacent hanger 44. At its upper end the shaft is provided with another arm 50a eX- tending at a right angle to the arin 50, and a link 52 connects the said arm with a lever 51, pivoted to the adjacent sidebar 1, as indicated at 53, and provided with latch mechanism 54, for cooperating with a toothed sector 55, secured to the side bar for holding the lever in adjusted position.

It will be evident that by the' proper manipulation of the lever 51, the sprocket wheel 47L may be released from the shaft. The coil spring 49 normally holds the clutch sections in contact. Each of the bars 47 before mentioned, is connected to a crank of the shaft 43,' by means of a bearing block 5G. Each of the bearing blocks 5G is arranged on the underside of the bar near its rear end and is secured to the bar by a U-shaped clip 57, whose arms pass downwardly through the bar and the block on opposite sides of the shaft and are engaged by nuts 58, below a cross plate 59. The cross plate has openings through its ends for receiving the arms and the nuts are threaded on to they arms below the plate.

A cutting blade GO of approximately triangular shape is secured to the front end'of each of the bars 47. Each of the blades is of approximately hoe shape, and the base of the blades are the cutting edges and are arranged forwardly. The blades as shown in 3 gradually increase in thickness from the base to the apex, and plates 61 and 61a are provided for connecting` the blades to the front end of the bar.

The plates 61 and (31a are connected to thebar hy means of bolts and nuts 62, and to the blade by means of rivets G3 or the like. The plates are spaced apart between the blade and the front end of the bar to form a guideway G4, for receiving a roller (35 on the shaft 45.

The rollers as shown more particularly in Fig. (i, are flanged or ribbed at their ends as indica-ted at 65 to prevent lateral movement of the front end of the bar with respect to the shaft.A The shaft 4B is rotated by means of a sprocket chain (3G, which connects the sprocket wheel 47 with the sprocket wheel G of the wheel rlhe sprocket chain is tensioned by means of an idler G7, which is journaled on a joui'- nal pin 68, extending laterally from one of the arms G9 of an elbow lever pivoted at 79 to the adjacent hanger 44. T he other arm 69 of the elbow lever is engaged by one end of a spring 't' 1, whose other end is connected to the hanger. The spring acts normally to press the idler upward, and the lower run ofthe sprocket chain 66 passes vover the idler.

The hangers 46 of the shaft 45 are provided at their upper ends with longitudinally extending series of openings 72. A shaft 75 is journaled transversely ofV the frame in bearings 75a', and a plate 73 is secured to each end of the shaft; Each plate is provided with a longitudinally extending series of openings 7 6, one of which is adapted to register with one of the openings 72 of the adjacent hanger 4G, and the hanger is pivoted to the plate by means of a Abolt and nut 77'. n

A lever 74 is secured to the shaft 75 and the lever is provided with the usual latch mechanism S0, for coperating with a toothed sector 81, for holding the lever' in adjusted position. lt will be evident' that when the shaft is oscillated in the proper direction, the hangers will be raised or lowered. The plate 73 adjacent to the lever 74 is provided with a curved extension 78, which is connected to the lever 74 directly above the shaft 75.

A roller 82 is arranged above the front ends of the bars 47 transversely of the frame, and the roller is secured to a shaft 83, which is journaled at its ends with hangers 84. Each hanger is provided at its upper end with a longitudinally extending series of openings 85, one of which is adapted to register with one of the'openings 76 of the adjacent plate 73, and the registering openings are adapted to receive a boltfor pivoting the hangers to the plate. 'The roller is thus adjusted with the front ends of the bars 47, the lever 74 operating both the roller and the shaft 45.

The roller S2 is connected to the roller 8 before mentioned, by means of an endless belt S6. The belt is provided on its outer face with a series of transversely arranged spaced slats S7, and each slat is provided with a series of `outwardly extending spurs SS. Each of' the spurs is curved, and all of the spurs are similarly arranged, in such manner that on the upper run of the belt, the convex surface ci the spurs are forwa rd ly.

Bracket arms S9 extend rearwardly from the hangers 44, intermediate their ends, and each arm is braced against the hanger by an inclined brace 00. Levers 91 are pivoted to the bracket arms, each lever having intermediate its ends a series of openings as shown in Fig. 1, for engagement bya bolt or pivot pin 92 connected with the bracket arm. At their lower ends the levers are connected by a shaft 98, which is polygonal in cross section, and a series of fingersr 04 is connected with the'shaft. *Eacho the fingers is provided at one end with a bearing collar 95, fitting the shaft, and each collar is provided with 'a pair of parallel lugs 9G, between which the end 'of the finger is received, land a bolt and nut 97 is provided for connecting the lugs to the fingers. The fingers are curved and all are arranged with their concave faces upwardly.

A link 0S connects the upper end of one lever 91 with a lever 99, which is pivoted to the frame at itslower end, and is provided with the usual latch mechanism 100, for coperating with a toothed sector V101, for holding the lever in adjusted position. By moving the lever 09 in the proper direction, the levers 91 may be oscillated to raise or lower the fingers 94. The said lingers 94 constitute a dropper or carrier for receiving the weeds after they have been'cut and for holding the cut weeds until a load has collected upon the dropper. lVhen this occurs the dropper is operated to release the load. The dropper ci' carrier is immediately below the rollerV 8, so that the endless carrier supported by the rollers 8k and 82 delivers to the dropper.

A clevis 102 is provided at the front of the frame, for connecting draft apparatus, the clevis being connected with one of the cross plates 2. Means is also provided for tensioning the sprocket chain 12. The said means comprises an idler sprocket 103, which is j ournaled on a journal pin 104, eX- tending laterally from one arm 105 of an elbow lever, consisting of the arm 105y and an arm 105g, arranged at an angle tothe said arm 105. The elbow lever is pivoted to the adjacent hanger 44, as indicated at 106, and a coil spring 107 is arranged between the arm 105 and the frame, the spring acting normally to press the roller 103 against the lower run of the sprocket chain.

. The operation of the machine, as a whole, is as follows z-The machine is drawn through the field in any desired manner with the shaft 45 adjusted in such manner that the blades 60 will cut at the required depth;

the depth at which the said blades cut should be approximately the same as the depth at which the flanges 39 of the wheels 25 cut. rlhe sprocket wheels 11 and 47a are ,normally clutched to their respectiveV shafts,

'and since the said sprocket wheels are conthe soil, operating in a manner very closely resembling that of a hand operated hoe. Each blade cuts loose a section of soil and lifts the'same upwardly. The block of soil ,y

adheres together because of the grassroots,

and each block as it is lifted is thrown on to the endless carrier or is thrown into position to be engaged by the spurs 8S thereof, which carry it on to the upper run of the carrier. As the blocks move rearwardly the soil drops away and the grass is carried to therear end of the carrier and dropped on to the dropper or carrier consisting of the lingers 94. The blade 60 may be adjustedto cut to any desired depth and the front end The height of the dropper may be ad-y justed by means of the series of openings in the levers 91. Either the roller 8 or the crank shaft 43 maybe released from the driving wheels by means of the proper lever. As the machine is drawn through the field, the flanges 39 of the front wheels cut al strip of soil loose from the soil at each side of the path traversed by the machine, and the ag- .gregate width of the cutting edges of the blades 60 is equal to the distance between the flanges 39 of the wheels. rIhusy a strip of soil which is to be lifted by the cutting blades is separated by the front wheels before the strip is engaged by the cutting blades.

lVhen the flanges 39 become dull or worn, they may be removed for sharpening, or for replacement by releasing the nuts 42. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. G that the ends of the shaft 83 to which the roller S2 is secured are extended outwardly past the hangers 46, and each end of the shaft is headed at its outer endV as indicated at 110. Wear or friction plates 1 11 are secured-to the respective hangers 46 at the extended ends of the shaft for engagement by the said ends. These wear plates have lugs 112 lapping upon the inner faces of the hangers, and each lug is secured to the hanger by means of a bolt and nut 113. The wear plates have a wide surface against which the extended ends of the shaft move, and the heads 110 engage outside of the outer edges of the said surfaces to limit longitudinal movement of the shaft 82.

l claim 1. ln a machine of the character specified, a main frame having a radial fiange pro vided with a cutting edge, wheels for supporting the rear end of the frame, cutting mechanism for separating the top layer of soil between the cuts made by said fianges,

Y u i l an endless carrier above the cutting mechanism for receiving the soil and conveying it rearwardly, and dropping mechanism supported at the rearof the frame for receiving the cut soil from the conveyer, and manually operated means for operating the dropper mechanism.

2. VA machine of the characterspecified, comprising a main frame, wheels for supporting and guiding the frame, a. shaft arranged transversely of the fra-me intermediate the ends thereof, means connected with the frame for supporting the shaft, means for adjusting the shaft vertically with respect to the frame, a crank shaft journaled at the rear of the frame below the same and having a series of cranks, said cranks being spaced apart angularly at equal distances, a bar for each crank, each bar having a bearing for engaging the crank and having at its front end a longitudinally extending slot through which the first-named shaft extends, a driving connection between the crank shaft and the wheels, and a cutting blade at the front end of each bar, each of the cutting blades being approximately triangular and having its base forward and sharpened to out, dropping mechanism at the rear of the frame, means for operating the dropping mechanism, and a1 conveyer for receiving the cut soil from the blades rand delivering it to the dropper.

3. A machine of the character specified, comprising a main frame, wheels for supporting and guiding the frame, al shaft arrangedr transversely of the frame intermediate the ends thereof, means connected with the frame for supporting the shaft, means for adjusting the shaft vertically with respect to the frame, a crank shaft ournaled at the rear of the frame below the same and having a series of cranks, said cranks being spaced apart angularly at equal distances, a bar for each crank, each bar having a bearing for engaging the crank and having at its front end a longitudinally extending slot through which the first-named shaft extends, a driving connectionfbetween the crank shaft and the wheels, and a cutting blade at the front end of each bar, dropping mechanism at the rear of the frame, means for operating the dropping mechanism, and a conveyer for receiving the cut soil from the blades and delivering it to the dropper.

4. A machine of the character specified, comprising a main frame, wheels for supporting and guiding the frame, a shaft arranged transversely of the frame intermedia-te the ends thereof, means connected with the frame for supporting the shaft, means for adjusting the shaft vertically with respect to the frame, a crank sha-ft journaled at the rear of the frame below the same and having a series of cranks, said cranks being spaced apart angularly at equal distances, a

bar for each crank, each bar having a bearing for engaging the crank and having at its front end a longitudinally extending slot through which the first-named shaft extends, a driving connection between the crank shaft and the wheels, and a cutting blade at the front end of each bar, each of the cutting blades being approximately triangular and havingits vbase forward and sharpened to cut.

A.machine of the character specified,

comprising a main frame, wheels for supporting and guiding the frame, a shaft arranged transversely of the frame intermediate the ends thereof, means connected with the frame for supporting the shaft, means for adjusting the shaft'vertically with respect to the frame, a crank shaft journaled at the rear of the frame below the same and having a series of cranks, said cranks being spaced apart angularly at equal distances, a bar for each crank, each bar having a bearing for engaging the crank and having at its front end a longitudinally extending slot thro-ugh which the first-named n shaft ex'- tends, a driving connection between 'the crank shaft and the wheels, and a cutting blade at the front end of each b-ar.

6. A machine of they character specified, comprising a frame, wheels for supporting the rear of the frame, dropping mechanism supported by the frame at the rear thereof, means for operating theV dro-pping mechanism, a crank shaft journaled below the frame at the rear thereof and provided with a series of cranks spaced apart at equal angular intervals, a shaft arranged transversely of the frame below the same near the front thereof, means for supporting and adjusting the said shaft vertically with respect to the frame, a bar journaled on each crank of the crank shaft at its rear. end, each bar having a longitudinal slot at its front end through which the shaft extends, a cutting blade secured to the front end of each bar, a releasable driving connection between the crank shaft and the supporting wheels, an endless conveyer supported for movement longitudinally of the frame above the bars for receiving thek material cut by the blades and delivering it to the dropping t mechanism, front wheels for supporting the front end of the frame, a pivotal connection between the wheels and the frame for per mitting the wheels to be swung to guide the frame, each wheel having a radial flange provided with a cutting edge, the aggregate width of the blades being approximately equal to the distance between the flanges of the front wheels.

, 7. A machine of the character specified, comprising a frame, wheels for supporting the rear of the frame, a roller journaled transversely of the frame at the rear thereof, dropping mechanism supported by the frame below the roller, means for operating the dropping mechanism, a crank shaft journaled below'the frame at the rear thereof and provided with a series of cranks spaced apart at equal angular intervals, a shaft arranged transversely of the frame below the same near the front thereof, means for supporting and adjusting the said shaft vertically with respect to the frame, a bar journaled on each crank at the crank shaft at its rear end, each bar having a longitudinal slot at its front end through which the shaft extends, a cutting blade secured to the front end of each bar, and a releasable driving connection between the crank shaft and the supporting wheels, and an endless conveyer supported for movement longitudinally of the frame above the bars for receiving the material cut by the blades and delivering it to the dropping mechanism.

8. A machine of the character specified,l

comprising a main frame, supporting wheels for the frame intermediate the ends thereof, an endless carrier arranged to move longitudinally of the frame, a dropping device at the rear of the frame to which the carrier delivers, an axle pivoted at the front of the frame, wheels on the axle, each wheel having'a cutting flange and reciprocating cutting blades supported by the frame and mounted to move toward and from the cutting wheels to cut the top layer of soil and deliver it to the conveyer, and driving connections between the support, the endless conveyer and the cutting mechanism.

OSCAR HJALMAR BJ UR. Witnesses:

C. H. HoLooMB, KATHLEEN HUDNUTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

